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Friday, 26 December 2014

Reportage: Crunch time for sixth form college bid

Plans to open a 1,000-place sixth form college in Halifax town centre have moved a step closer to becoming a reality after its bid has reached the final stage of the application process.

Trinity Academy, the school leading the bid to open Calderdale 6th, has announced that its application has advanced to the final interview stage.

The bidders will attend an interview in London in early January to progress the bid further, with a view to open the college in September 2016.

The bid has almost 2,500 signatories who have signed to say that they would seriously consider sending their child to such a 6th form when it opens in 2016.

However, the bid did not get the backing of Calderdale Council following an amendment pushed through by the Labour group in October to hold more discussions on the school before offering its support.

Michael Gosling, principal at Trinity Academy, Holmfield, said: “We are very much looking forward to discussing the details of the bid in full.

“The evidence for the need for Calderdale 6th is overwhelming, both in terms of the picture for the results and the fact that currently a quarter of our young people need to travel out of the district to obtain the post-16 experience that they deserve.

“The bid has attracted a great deal of support from a number of important quarters, but particularly from the young people and their parents it will serve.

“We have had almost 2,500 signatories from young people and parents who said they would look to join us when the doors open in 2016.”